Finally! After skirting half of the southern territories, the young healer had reached the southern continent of Auster. The land bridge had been an interesting sight, but there was far more he wanted to see before heading back home. Broad paws carried him over surprisingly lush grasses, still cool underfoot as the morning dew disappeared. Mottled in greens and browns, he blended quite well with the scenery as he made his way through. This grove was filled with all manner of brush, and many different varieties of berry bushes. Pausing to inspect the nearest one, he found it laden with raspberries! Ack, why hadn't he thought to bring an extra bag on the trip? Sharp teeth carefully plucked a few of the ripe berries from their stems, and he chewed the tart berries while he continued his journey through the meadow. It would take a little while to get the lay of the land, and then he might stash his mask and supply bag somewhere so he could explore unencumbered. For now, he kept the muntjac skull affixed to his features and ambled along. Once again the swamp dweller stopped short, and leaned in to examine a cluster of pale blooms poking up from the thick grass. Boneset! He knew it from the fibrous hairs that coated the thick stalks, and the incredibly long leaves at the end of each branched cluster. He didn't have much left in his stores for winter, and it would almost certainly be in high demand when he returned. Perhaps he could collect some now, and hang it from one of these trees to dry so he could collect it at the end of his adventure through the grove. Yes, that might work. He stooped down, lowering and tilting his head to one side, and chewed through the base of one of the larger stalks in a few swift bites. Then came the careful process of collecting some of the long grasses that sprouted around the base of a nearby tree and tying them together as best he could. With the makeshift twine, he then bunched up some of the older leaves near the base of the boneset stalk and tied them together with the twine so the plant would hang upside down. Next it was just a matter of finding a low enough branch that he could reach it without risking pain of death if he happened to fall. Easier said than done, apparently. It took a little bit of aimless wandering, craning his neck to keep from dragging his trussed up herbs on the ground, and then he found a young oak. He dropped his bag of travelling supplies at the base of the trunk, and got to work. The forked trunk was a blessing, and he could use it as a jumping off point to climb a bit higher into the boughs and onto a sturdier one higher up. From there, he draped the homemade twine and its bounty near the trunk, where it wouldn't catch the eye of any wandering healers who might try to steal it. Perfect. Nimble paws carried him back down the trunk in a few leaps, pads and claws scraping against rough bark as he went. Once he was back on the ground, he let out a satisfied sigh and slung the old burlap bag over his shoulder again. A few hours should be good enough to get the herbs dried enough for travel, as long as it didn't rain. "speech" thinking "others"

It was hard to stay in one place after traveling out at sea for so long. At first it had baffled and amazed Bowen that wolves were capable of such means of transportation, but after a time it became natural. Once she had bought her freedom, it had taken her quite some time to shake her sea legs and remember how to walk on land. She often wished that she was still out at sea, but she had missed her family terribly. Being out at sea wasn't worth the price of her freedom either.

Despite being back home with her family, Bowen still felt the need to move, to travel. The young woman was often gone for days, simply letting her paws carry her wherever they wished. Today, they led her to a lovely little place nestled at the center of a copse of maple trees. As Bowen strode through, she noted the variety of berries present on the flowering bushes. Pity that she hadn't brought a basket or a container of any sort. It would have been nice to take some berries back to the castle.

As the caramel and cream fae strode leisurely through the sweet smelling place, her viridian gaze fell upon a man that appeared to be cutting and storing herbs. A healer of some sort, she imagined. Since she was so close, it would be rude to simply walk away. Clearing her throat lightly, Bowen's russet ears slid forward. "Hello there," she spoke in her soft, clear tones. If the man wished to retain his privacy, she would leave. She simply felt that it would be rude to leave without a greeting.

"Bowen"

Bowen Arrow Carpathius

Nearly scaring him out of his skin, the sound of a voice from somewhere behind him. "Hello there," He swung his head round, pointing the formidable points of the muntjac skull towards the sound, only to find a dainty fae standing there. A rarity among these parts, he'd come to realize. With a small jerk of his head, he shook away some of the tension from his muscles and lifted his snout so he wasn't pointing the defensive weaponry of his headgear at her face anymore. A sheepish smile came over his features, though it was only partly visible at this point. "Sorry 'bout that," he said, stubby tail twitching nervously. "ya scared me." he quickly admitted, turning his eyes away from her for a moment. That was the thing about wandering to unfamiliar territories- it was easier for someone to sneak up, even if they weren't trying to. "This place is pretty neat, ain't it?" he questioned, trying to save face by making conversation with the stranger he'd just threatened. Now that he was able to get a better look at her, she might even have been smaller than him. Even at home that wasn't a super common feat, and he wondered if she was actually from around these parts at all. "speech" thinking "others"